Manufacture of gas for illuminating, heating, or power purposes.



UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBEnT SAMUEL ELWORTHY, ors'r. ALBANS, ENGLAND.

I so

. tact with the nickel, one or other of the oxids- 7 No Drawing.

MANUFACTURE or GAS FOB ILLUMiNATING, HEATiNG, on. POWER PURPOSES.

To all whom it my comm:

Be it known that I, Hansen SAMUEDEL- WORTHY, of Battlefield Road, St.AlbanS in the county of Her-ts, En land, have invented certain new anduseful improvements in the Manufacture of Gas for Illuminating, Heating,or Power Purposes, of which the following IS a specification.

This invention relates to the'manufacture and production of a chea andeconomical gas or mixture of gases suitable for heating, lighting andpower purposes.

.By this invention a cheap and valuable gas for the purposes mentionedcan be secured equal in heatinigT and lighting value to coal gas andfree. om the obJection of forming naphthalene and similar deposits inthe mains. v v

The gas obtained by the present invention possesses the very greattechnicaladvantage that while it can be produced in a cheap andeconomical way it is substantially free from the toxic properties ofcarbon monoxid, the presence of which forms such a serious objection tothe use of water gas and in the cheaper forms of gas hitherto employed.By the present invention the carbon monoxid is removed and in its placethe valuable and non-toxic constituent methane is substituted.

In the specifications of previous patents Nos. .7 38,303 and 777 ,848there are described various processes of preparing gas for illuminatingor other purposes by sub'ecting water gas of any kind to the action 0nickel at a suitable temperature or temperatures and in the resence oftheoretically suflicient hydrogen or the conversion of carbon monoxid orcarbon dioxid (or both) -.of the Water gas into methane and water onconof carbon being in some cases removed prior to the reaction. Thereare also described in the specification of an a plication for U. S.patent filed simultaneous l herewith various methods of making gas ysubjecting any gas obtained from the destructlve distillation of coal,bitumen, or other similar source, mixed or not with water gas, Dowsongas, producer gas or equivalent gas to the action of metallic nickel ata suitable temperature or temperatures to convert the oxid or oxide ofcarbon and hydrogen present into meth- In these latter methods,

Specification of Letters Qatent. P t t F b 22, 19'10 Application use9.78, 1905. Serial No. 282,477.

the reaction, while hydrogen is sometimes added to bring the percentagethereof up to the required theoretical proportion for the reaction. Insome cases one of the oxids of carbon is removed prior to the reaction,and in others a combined coal and water gas is used for the'reaction.For convenience I will refer to the various reaction mixtures employedin the two said specifications as the water gas reaction mixture and thecoal gas reaction mixture respectively. The term water gas in thepresentapplication includes any gas made by passing steam through heatedcarbonaceous" fuel, While the term coal gas includes any gas obtained bythe destructive distillation of coal, bitumen or other similar material.

In all the methods above referred to the reaction gas or mixturesubjected to the action of the nickel contains hydrogen in about thetheoretical proportion corresponding with the formula of conversion, andwhere, less than this proportion of hydrogen is present, it is enerallyadded to approximately make up t e theoretical proportion. The gases inall cases under 0 a considerable shrinkage as the result 0 the reaction.I have now found as the result of further study and practical trialsthat in all the methods or processes above referred to, the reaction canbe greatly facilitated and a much more complete conversion of thereaction gasesinto methane effected in the nickel chamber by conductingthe reaction in the presence of a considerable excess of hydrogen, or itmay be in the presence of methane, or of a mixture of both, or in thepresence of another combustible gas inert to the nickel and conversionproducts. By employing an excess of hydrogen I am enabled to compensatefor the shrinkage which the converted gases undergo in the reaction,while at the same time facilitating the conversion as explained. Theconversion may be effected at the same temperature or temppnversion andobtaimn conversion of the oxid or oxids of carbon present, and I am thusenabled to obtain, after the conversion, a stantially of methane. headded methane may be conveniently obtained from a preceding reaction orstage of the working. As a neral example the methane may be ad ed to anyof the water gas reaction mixtures or coal gas reaction mixturesreferred to, in say e ual proportions, but it will be understood t atthe invention is in no way confined to any particular proportions, andthat these may be varied within wide limits, accordin to the nature ofthe gas or mixture to e treated.

An important feature of my invention is to employ an excess of hydrogenfor the purpose of facilitating and improvin the a cheap com inedmixture of the gases. T is excess of hydrogen is not attacked but causesthe reaction to (proceed with greater regularity, facility an safety.The oxid or o'xids of carbon present in the water gas reaction mixtureor coal gas'reaction mixture, and an equivalent pro rtion of thehydrogen, are very efiectua y transformed into methane, and the excesshydrogen mixes with the methane produced, so that a very valuable gasconsisting'practically entirely of methane and hydrogen can be obtained,havin a high calori c power and substantially ree from the poisonousproperties of carbon monoxid and the disadvantageous presence of carbondioxid. Such a gas has never been industrially available and I reservethe right to such gas broadly, as a new article of manufacture, whichowing to the cheapness of its production is of great economicimportance. To illustrate this part of the invention I will take as anexample an ordinary water gas consisting in substance of carbonIIIODOXld and hydrogen. I The amount of hydrogen here theoreticallyrequired for the conversion is indicated by the formula:

Now by adding hydrogen to this water gas until there are, for exampleabout three yolumes of hydrogen present in the mixture 7 1n excess ofthat theoretically required, and

then passing the mixture over the nickel at the proper temperature, agas may be obtained possessing a calorific power practically equal tothat of ordinary coal as, and equally suitable, or even more suitab e,than ordinary coal urposes. Sue gas, with an e ual, or even essconsumption, allows of o tainin an equal lighting power to that ofordinary coal gas with an ordinary Welsbach burner and mantle. Theexcess hydrogen maybe mixed with the water gas reaction mixture sconsisting sub- 5 as for incandescent lighting.

or coal" gas reaction mixture prior to its passage over the nickel, orthe production of the water gas or coal gas may be conducted in anysuitable way to 'secure the presence of the surplus h drogenin the gas.The requisite quantity 0 surplus hydrogen may be added to the mixtureafter the conversion as hereinafter mentioned. By varying the amount ofthe excess hydrogen, I

may increase or diminish the richness of the gas, made to suit difierentrequirements. The calorific ower of the gas can be increased by re ucinthe amount of the exgas can then be advantageousl mixed w th coal gas orother combustible gas of too low a calorific power, and in this way Imay obtain gas of any desired illuminating and calorific power. vWith asimilar object I may also according to my invention add to illuminatinggas of low calorific power the gas obtained by efiecting the conversionin the presence of methane as hereinbefore described. Or the gasproduced in this latter way or by carryingl out the reaction in thepresence of excess ydrogen, may be added to coal gas or lighting gasgenerally or to any other combustible gas to meet difierentrequirements. If desired a mixture of methane and excess of hydrogen maybe added to the reaction gases before conversion in the nickel chamber.

The new gas obtained by conducting the conversion in the presence ofexcess hydrogen may be carbureted if desired, being moreover verysusceptible of practical and economical enrichment in this way; This maybe performed in any suitable way. It can be effected for example in asimilar manner to that used for water gas, the consumption ofcarbureting agent employed being however much less than required forwater gas for a given illuminating power. I ma with great advantagecarburet the gas w en required by passing it through retorts of ordinaryor suitable t pe wherein the distillation of coal or the ike is beingconducted for the production of gas. this way the gas 'passed'th'roughthe retorts will to a arge extent prevent decomposition of the higher hdrocarbons produced from the coal, an is enriched by 'thesehydrocarbons. By this means a gas value may of high calorific andilluminating any other be produced without the use 0 carbureting agent,but this gas may be further carbureted if desired. The gas obtained bycarrying out the conversion in presence of methane or other combustiblegas inert to the nickel and conversion products (with or without excesshydrogen) may also be carbureted as just explained or in any othersuitable way.

The improved type of hydrogen generator described in said prior patentNo. 777,848

amps-z is preferably used for producing the hydrogen employed for thepurposes of the present'invention, as this generator permits ofobtaining the said gas with the greatest economy. V

- It will be understood that the sulfur, ammonia and other impuritiesshould be removed from'the. reaction gases before they are passedthrough the conversion chambers, and where coal gas or like gas is usedin the-conversion, the higher hydrocarbons thereof should be previouslyremoved. It

is not necessary to remove the carbon dioxid unless the monoxid only isto be converted.

In cases where the gas or mixture to be subjected to the action of thenickel contains carbon monoxid and carbon dioxid in suflicientproportion andit is desired to convert both into methane by combinationwith the hydrogen present, the gas or mixture can be 7 led first overnickel at a suitable temperature for the conversion of the monoxid' andthen over further nickel at a suitable temperature for the conversion ofthe dioxid. What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is 1. Aprocess for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or powerpurposes, consisting in passing a combustible gas containingioxid ofcarbon and hydrogen in quantity su cient to effect conversion into marshgas, together with a'large quantitj of a combustible gas inert to nickeland conversion prodnets, in contact with nickel at a suitabletemperature for the conversion of said oxid and hydrogen into methaneand Water.

2. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or powerpurposes, con sisting in producing a combustible gas con taining carbonmonoxid, carbon dioxid and hydrogen, removing one of said oxids andpassing the remaining gas containing the other oxid and hydrogenin-quantity sufiicient to effect conversion into marsh gas, togetherwith a large quantity of a combustible gas inert to nickel andconversion prodnets, in contact with nickel at a suitable temperaturefor the conversion of the said re;

maining oxid and hydrogen into methane and .Water.

3. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or powerpurposes consisting in passing a combustible gasc ontaining carbonmonoxid, carbon dioxid and hydrogen in quantity suflicientto efiectconversion into marsh gas, together with 'a large quantity of acombustible as inert to nickel and conversion products, rst over nickelat a suitable temperature fortheconversion of the monoxid and then overfurther nickel at a suitable temperature for the conversion of thedioxid.

4. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or powerpurposes, consisting in passing a gas containing oxid of carbon togetherwith hydrogen in large excess of the proportion required for the conversion of said oxidinto methane and Water in contact with nickel at asuitable temperature for the conversion of the oxid and hydrogen intomethane and water.

5. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or.power purposes consisting in passing any form of water gas containingoxid of carbon, together with hydrogenin large excess of the proportionrequired for the conversion of said oxid into methane and water incontact with nickel ata suitable temperature for the saidconversion.

6. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or powerpurposes, consisting in passing 'water gas containing carbon mo'noxid,together with hydrogen, in large excess above the proportion requiredfor conversion of the m'onoxid into methane and water,in contact withnickel at asuitable temperature for the said conversion.

7. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or powerpurposes, consisting in passing a mixture of a coal gas and a water gas,containing oxid of carbon, together with hydrogen in large excess abovethe proportion required for the conversion of the oxid of carbon intomethane and Water, over nickel, at a suitable temperature for saidconversion.

8. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting-heating or powerpurposes, con- Water gas containing ox'id of carbon and passing saidgastogether with hydrogen in large excess 0 the proportion required forthe conversion of the oxid of carbon into methane and water, in contactwith nickel at a suitable temperature for said conversion.

9. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or powerpurposes, consisting in producing a combined coal and water gascontaining'carbon monoxid and carbon dioxid, removing the dioxid andpassing the remaining gas, together with hydrogen in large excess of theproportion re-" quired for the conversion of the monoxid into methaneand Water, in contact with 115 nickel at a suitable temperature for thesaid conversion.

10. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lightlng, heating or owerpurposes, consisting in passing a com ustible gas containingioxid ofcarbon and hydrogen in quantity su cient to effect conversion into marshgas, together with a large quantity of a combustible gas inert to nickeland conversion products, in contact; with nickel at a suitable 1temperature for the conversion of said oxid and hydrogen into methaneand water, and thereafter carbureting the gas by assing the same throughretorts wherein coa is undergoing distillation.

11. A process for the manufacture of a gas for lighting, heating orpower purposes, consisting in passin contaming oxid 0 car on, togetherwith hyundergoing distillation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto si ned an form of Water gas my name1n the presence of two subscri mg '5 drogen in large excess of thequantit rewitnesses.

quired for the conversion of the oxid 0 car- HERBERT SAMUEL ELWORTHY.bon into methane and water, over nickel at a Witnesses: suitabletemperature for the said conversion, ROBERT MILTON SPEARPOINT,

and thereafter carbureting the gas by pass- Borrection in, EettersPatent No. 950,007.

H. D. J AMESON.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 950,067, granted Februarv22, 1910 I a v Q the application of" Herbert Samuel Elwo'rthy, of St.Albans, England, for an improvement 1n The Manufacture of Gas forIlluminating; Heating or PowerPurposes, were erroneously Issued to theinventor saidElworthy, whereas :said Letters Patent should have beenissued to Ellen Gertrude Elwortky, admih istrat'rim of said Hilbert:bamuel Elworthy, deceased; and that the said Letters Patent should beread W1 t is oorrection therein that the same ma I V i y conform to there rd f th the Patent Oflice. i v 00 0 6 case In Signed and sealed this22d day of March, -A. D., 1910. v

[emu] C. C.BILLINGS,

Acting Commissionefoflatgta.

ing the same through retorts wherein coal is 10 11. A process for themanufacture of a gas for lighting, heating or power purposes, consistingin passin contaming oxid 0 car on, together with hyundergoingdistillation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto si ned an form of Water gas my name1n the presence of two subscri mg '5 drogen in large excess of thequantit rewitnesses.

quired for the conversion of the oxid 0 car- HERBERT SAMUEL ELWORTHY.bon into methane and water, over nickel at a Witnesses: suitabletemperature for the said conversion, ROBERT MILTON SPEARPOINT,

and thereafter carbureting the gas by pass- Borrection in, EettersPatent No. 950,007.

H. D. J AMESON.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 950,067, granted Februarv22, 1910 I a v Q the application of" Herbert Samuel Elwo'rthy, of St.Albans, England, for an improvement 1n The Manufacture of Gas forIlluminating; Heating or PowerPurposes, were erroneously Issued to theinventor saidElworthy, whereas :said Letters Patent should have beenissued to Ellen Gertrude Elwortky, admih istrat'rim of said Hilbert:bamuel Elworthy, deceased; and that the said Letters Patent should beread W1 t is oorrection therein that the same ma I V i y conform to there rd f th the Patent Oflice. i v 00 0 6 case In Signed and sealed this22d day of March, -A. D., 1910. v

[emu] C. C.BILLINGS,

Acting Commissionefoflatgta.

ing the same through retorts wherein coal is 10 Correction in LettersPatent No. 950,067.

It is hereby certified thet Letters Patent No. 950,067, granted February22, 1910, upon the application of Herbert Samuel Elworthy, of St.Albans, England, for an improvement in The Manufacture of Gas forIlluminating Heating, or Power Purposes, were erroneously issued to theinventor, said Elworth y, whereas said Letters Patent should have beenissued to Ellen Gertrude Elwort/zy, administratriw of said HerbertSamuel Elworth y, deceased; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform to therecord of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of March, A. D., 1910.

[emu] (J. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

